Toto Wolff has dismissed suggestions that his wife Susie might campaign to become the next president of Formula 1's governing body.
Current FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has faced ongoing controversy, with Mercedes team principal and co-owner Toto Wolff emerging as a notable adversary.
The tension peaked in 2023 when Ben Sulayem initiated a brief conflict-of-interest investigation into Toto and Susie Wolff, who leads the all-female F1 Academy series.
Susie labelled the probe "intimidatory and misogynistic," while Italy's Autosprint magazine speculated it was a pre-emptive move by Ben Sulayem, aware of her potential presidential aspirations.
FIA elections are scheduled for December, and 1996 world champion Damon Hill has said Susie Wolff would be "perfect" for the role.
Yet, when quizzed about the rumours on ORF's Sport am Sonntag this week, Toto Wolff replied: "Not that I know of.
"Susie is an entrepreneur. Someone started this rumour to create a stir."
Toto conceded that his relationship with the FIA president is far from warm.
"We have our pressure points where we disagree," said the Austrian. "On other things, for example the swearing, we largely agree.
"We are a gentleman's sport and we set an example. The children should not hear our drivers swearing all the time."
Wolff maintained that his bond with Lewis Hamilton remains strong, despite the seven-time champion's high profile move to Ferrari for 2025 announced early last year.
"It's not that bad," he said of their new rivalry. "We are very good friends. On a personal level, I wish him all the best, but on the racetrack we want to beat him."
Looking to 2025, Wolff predicted a tight battle among the top four teams, including Mercedes, though he acknowledged a frontrunner.
"The balance of power after the tests in Bahrain is that four teams are pretty much on the same level on a fast lap, perhaps with a small advantage for (Lando) Norris," he said.
"In the race simulations, the two McLarens are clearly ahead, with (Max) Verstappen, us and Ferrari just behind."
Wolff believes George Russell is good enough to challenge for the world title but tempered expectations for Hamilton's replacement, 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli.
"We've been with Andrea since he was 11," said Wolff. "Since then he's won everything, every single category, and we've also driven 11,000 kilometres with him in an old Formula 1 car.
"Nevertheless, when you're thrown into the F1 circus as an 18-year-old, you have to be careful not to lose your footing. That's why we're trying to dampen expectations at the beginning."
